Peeter Margus defens his doctoral thesis on 9 June at 11:30 room D-511 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Music):

“Interpretation of Folk Music in Classical Music From the Viewpoint of a Violinist Based on the Works by Eduard Tubin and George Enescu”

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Kristel Pappel; Senior Researcher Žanna Pärtlas, PhD

Opponent: Mart Jaanson, PhD

The doctoral thesis is available HERE and in print in the EAMT library.

Fragment from the Summary:

This thesis is part of the artistic research project concerned with the performer’s approach to folk music composed into art music. In addition to the written thesis, the research project entails four recitals, in each of which a classical piece containing folk music is placed into different musical contexts. This research investigates from the perspective of a classical violinist how to develop interpretational strategies for performing such classical music compositions into which the composer has incorporated folk music. Two pieces for violin and piano were chosen for the purpose of this research that cover a wide array of possibilities how folk music may be used in classical music by the composer and therefore interpreted by the performer.
“Suite on Estonian Dance Tunes” ETW 53 (1943/1974) by the Estonian composer Eduard Tubin employs 11 Estonian folk tunes as the basis of its musical material. The folk tunes are composed into the violin part of the suite as direct quotes, having minute alterations made to them, such as adding double stops or changing a few notes or rhythms. Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 Op. 25 by the Romanian Georges Enescu is similarly inspired by the folk music of the composer’s homeland however the folkloristic material of the piece is entirely Enescu’s original creation.